Data center restrictions tracker · Idaho

Data center moratoriums and restrictions in Idaho (2026)

Data snapshot 2026-08-15 · part of Pricing the Fear of Data Centers

As of August 15, 2026, this tracker documents 3 local government actions on data centers in Idaho, across 3 jurisdictions in 3 counties: 1 zoning exclusion, 1 moratorium, and 1 project rejection. By status: 2 enacted and 1 replaced.

At the state level, the state has a ratepayer-protection law (enacted).

Data centers in Idaho used about 0.3 TWh of electricity in 2024; EPRI, Powering Intelligence 2026 (state-level dashboard) projects 3.1 TWh in its 2030, EPRI medium scenario.

Statewide actions in Idaho

  • Idaho: ratepayer-protection law, enactedHB 911 (enacted 2026): large-load tariff and cost-allocation law for data centers. Instrument: HB 911. Source: Clean Energy Group 2026 inventory (NCSL deck corroborates).

Local actions in Idaho

Every documented local action in Idaho in the August 15, 2026 snapshot. Documented actions, not a census.
JurisdictionCountyActionStatusDate
PocatelloBannock CountyProject rejectionenactedMay 18, 2026
Ada CountyAda CountyZoning exclusionenactedNovember 1, 2025
Kootenai CountyKootenai CountyMoratoriumreplacedMarch 11, 2025

What one campus pays a local government

The parent piece's calculator puts a single large campus at $2M to $90M a year in local revenue, depending on the tax regime and abatements. The reference campus (Project Blue scale: $3.6B of capital, 286 MW) pays about $157M to local governments over 10 years. Permanent jobs run around 50 per facility.

Tax regimeReference caseAnnual local revenue, lowAnnual local revenue, high
Aggressive abatementMorrow County OR (enterprise zone)$2M$3M
Partial abatementGeorgia audit representative campus / El Paso Meta$27.8M$56M
Unabated equipment taxVirginia-style rates (Loudoun is the ceiling)$50M$90M

Run your own numbers in the calculator on the parent piece. Jurisdictions in Idaho that say no give up this revenue, not the jobs.

Sources

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